Magnetic separator.



N0.. 686,402. Pfented Nov. I2, |90l. T. J. GREENWAY.

MAGNETIC SEPARATUR.

(Application filed Oct. 12, 1899.)

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(No Model.)

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No. 686,402. Batented Nov. l2, |90I.

T. J. GBEENWAY. msm-:Tlc sEPAnATon.

(Application med oct. 12, 1599,) (No Model.) l 5 Smets- Sheet 2.

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MAGNETIC sEPAnATon.

(Application led Get. 12, 1899.) l

5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

No. 686,402. PatentedNov. l2, |90l.

T. J. GREENWAY. MAGNETIC SEPARATOR.

(Application 'lld Oct. 12, 1899.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

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No. 636,402. Patented Nov. l2, 190|.

- T. J. GREENWAY.

MAGNETIC' SEPARATOR. (Application med oc'tf12, lsQQ.)

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UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE. l

THOMASJOHN GREENWAY, EAST ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

MAGNETIC SEPARATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 686,402, dated November 12, 1901. Application tiled October l2, 1h99. Serial No. 733,430. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known thatv I, THOMAS JOHN GREEN- WAY, metallurgist, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Second avenue, East Adelaide, in the Province of South Australia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Magnetic Separators; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus for the separation of magnetic from non-magnetic particles, or for the separation of materials of dierent degrees of magnetic susceptibility, more especially in the treatment of certain complex ores.

Though my invention is herein described as relatingv to the separation of magnetic from non-magnetic materials, I wish it to be well understood that the terms .magnetic7 and non-magnetic include materials of different degrees of magnetic susceptibility.

In magnetic separators at present inuse various mechanical devices are adopted for feeding the material into and through Athe magnetic fields. Most of these devices are more or less dependent upon the force of gravity for the travel of the material, andthe separation of the magnetic portions from the nonmagnetic is usually effected by deflecting the magnetic particles from the direct line of travel. These devices, however, require constant and fine adjustment in operation toV adapt themselves to the varyin g nature of the material under treatment.

The object of my invention is to introduce the material into the magnetic fields in a simpler and more eective manner, capable of iine and easy adjustment, according to the degree of magnetic susceptibility of the particles contained in the material under treatment. I accomplish this object by subjecting the material to centrifugal force by feeding it onto a table rotating horizontally, capable of being driven at such rate of speed as may be found necessary. I provide such table with an arrangement of magnets in such manner that during its travel toward the edge of the table the material is caused to pass through magnetic fields of high concentra-f tion. By this means the magnetic particles are retarded in their outward travel until they pass beyond the influence of the magnetic field, when they are delivered over the edge of the table at a given point. The non-mag netic particles in the meantime pass outward without check and are delivered over the edge of the table at a different point. This vrotating table may be constructed of any Furthermore, the rate of the travel of the material into and through the magnetic fields may be regulated by adjusting the feed and the speed at which the table is driven, according to the varying degrees of magnetic susceptibility of the particles in the material under treatment. Y

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan of my improved magnetic separator, showing a table having two electromagnets arranged above it with four downwardly-projecting pole-pieces; Fig. 2, a side sectional elevation of the same, taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partlyin sect-ion, of two tables arranged in pairs, each table being provided with one electromagnet arranged above it with two downwardly-projecting polepieces. Fig. 4t is a side sectional elevation of a table provided with electromagnets arranged both 'above and below. Fig. 5 is a plan showing diagrammatically the manner in which the separation of the material is effected.

A is themain framework of the apparatus and is preferably constructed of wood. Within thisframework A is mounted a table adapted to be rotated horizontally. This rotating table may be constructed of any suitable material, but is preferably made wholly or in part of soft iron. In this manner the soft-iron portion of the table acts in relation to the pole-pieces of the electromagnets hereinafter described as a' detached rotating ar- IOO mature. The table, as shown in Figs. l, 2, and 4, consists of a flat soft-iron disk B. According to Fig. 3 the table is constructed partly of magnetic and partly of non-magnetic material, and for this purpose the softiron disk B is let into the center ofa larger-disk B', of brass, wood, or other non-magnetic material. The table or disk B is mounted upon a vertical shaft C, working in suitable bearings C within the framework A, and is rotated by beveled gear-wheels C2, driven by pulleys C3 in the ordinary way.

The material for treatment is fed upon the surface of the table or disk B in a regulated stream from hoppers D by chutes D'. These hoppers D and chutes Dl are arranged in suitable positions, whereby the material may be fed onto the table at the entrance to the magnetic fields. As the table or disk B rotates, the material is thrown outward by centrifugal force, and the rate of its travel may be adjusted by regulating the speed at which the table is driven, according to the degree of susccptibility of the particles contained in the material under treatment.

In order to eect the magnetic Separation, one or more electromagnets are provided, arranged about the table in such manner that the material as it passes outward by centrifugal force is caused to pass through magnetic fields of considerable intensity.

In Figs. l, 2, and 3 the rotating table or disk B is provided with electromagnets E, arranged above and having downwardly-projecting pole-pieces E. The lower extremities of these pole-pieces E are in close proximity to the outer margin of the iron disk B, which thus acts in relation to the electromagnets E as a detached rotating armature. Thus between the lower ends of the pole-pieces E and the surface of the disk B there are formed magnetic fields of great intensity, through which the material is caused to pass in its outward travel.

Referring to Fig. 4, the table or disk B is herein provided with an electromagnet F, arranged below the table, corresponding with the electromagnet E, arranged above. The electromagnet F has upwardly projecting pole-pieces F arranged in close proximity to the under surface of the table or disk B, and the pole-pieces E and F', opposite to each other, are of opposite signs. Thus that portion of the table passing immediately between the pole-pieces E and F becomes inductively magnetized, and magnetic fields of great intensity are formed K through which the material in its outward travel is caused to pass.

In order to bring all the material under the 4inliuenee of the lines of magnetic force, I provide means whereby the material is heaped or banked up as it enters the magnetic field. For this purpose the table or disk B is preferably provided with an annulairidge or fiange G, arranged a short distance within the outer edge or margin of the disk B in such manner that it passes just within the points of the pole-pieces E. Suitable brushes or wipers H are provided whereby the material is swept against this ridge G in a heaped or banked-up form. A channel or passage is thus formed between the points of the polepieces E and the surface of the table or disk B and the ridge or flange G, which is highly charged with lines of magnetic force. This channel or passage thus forms a magnetic field of great intensity, through which the material is caused to pass.

Referring to Fig. 5, it will be seen that the material fed from the hopper D by means of the chutes D passes onto the surface of the table or disk B immediately at the entrance to the magnetic fields before described and is then swept up by the wipers or brushes II against the ridge G, in which manner as the table rotates it enters the magnetic fields x y. (Shown as m y in dotted lines in Fig. 5.) The non-magnetic particles are immediately thrown outward by centrifugal force, as shown in dotted lines a h, Fig. 5, while the magnetic particles are retarded in their ou tward passage. Upon emerging from the magnetic field these magnetic particles are immediately thrown over the edge of the table at a dierent point, as shown by dotted lines c d,

i Fig. 5.

.The separated products are thus drawn off from their respective launders or receptacles, according to their degree of magnetic sus'- ceptibility.

I do not desire to claim herein the method of magnetically separating mixtures of mag netic and non-magnetic substances or mixtures of substances of different magnetic susceptibility, as this method or process forms the subject of a separate or divisional appli- ;cation, as required by the provisions of Rule 41 of the Rules of Practice.

Having now particularly described and asA certained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim isl. A magnetic separator, comprising a horizontally-revolving plate of magnetic material, electromagnets so arranged above and below said plate that poles of one polarity are opposite those of the other polarity and located to magnetize said plate by induction at certain points of its travel, means for feeding material onto magnetized portions of said plate, and mechanism for driving the plate, thereby carrying ore particles along the magnetic fields and centrifugally discharging nonmagnetic particles from the edge of the plate IOO at magnetic, and magnetic particles at neutral portions of said plate, substantially as described.

2. A magnetic separator, comprisinga horizontally-revolving plate of magnetic material, electromagnets arranged to produce a divided magnetic circuit and to magnetize said plate by induction at certain points of its travel, means for feeding material onto the surface of said plate at its magnetized parts, thereby causing said material to travel across one and along the other of said magnetic circuits, and means for imparting speed to said plate to centrifugally discharge from its edge nonmagnetic particles from the magnetized portions and magnetic particles from the nen tral portions of said plate, substantially as set forth.

3. A magnetic separator, comprising a horizontally-revolving fiat armature of magnetic material, electromagnets arranged to magnetize said armature by induction at certain points of its travel, means for delivering material to be separated on the armature at the magnetized parts, and means for confining the material While on the armature Within the path of the magnetic field, and mechanism for imparting speed to said armature to discharge only by centrifugal force from the edge of the armature non-magnetic particles, While in the magnetic field, and magnetic particles at the substantially neutral points.

4. A magnetic separator, comprisingahorizontally-revoluble disk, a magnetic field at one or more points proximate to the perimeter of said disk, means feeding the material to be separated to the disk at the entrance to said magnetic field or fields, and means banking up said material at the said entrance, for the purpose set forth.

5. A magnetic separator comprising a revolving armature composed of magnetic material, magnets with both poles on one side of said armature, the latter forming part of the magnetic circuit, means for feeding ore on said revolving armature in advance of the poles and Within the iniiuence of said magnetic curcuit, thereby separating the nonmagnetic particles during their passage through, and the magnetic particles after their passage through the magnetic circuit, substantially as set forth.

6. In an ore-separator, a horizontally-revolving discoidal plate composed of magnetic and non-magnetic material arranged to form an active ring-armature, electromagnets organized to energize said active ring at certain points of its travel, and means for feeding material to be separated at the magnetic parts, substantially as described.

7. In an ore-separator, a revolving horizontal plate composed of magnetic and nonmagnetic material arranged to expose an effective ring of magnetic material, electromagnets organized to energize said ring at certain points of its travel and means for feeding material to be separated from the center on to said ring, substantially as described.

8. A magnetic separator comprising a horizontally-revoluble discoidal armature, electromagnets, having their poles facing said armature arranged at different points of its perimeter, means feeding the material to be separated to the armature at the entrance of the magnetic fields, and means banking up the material so fed at the said entrance, for the purpose set forth.

9. A magnetic separator comprising a horizontally-revoluble discoidal armature, electromagnets arranged in sets above and below said armature with their poles facing the same, at dierent points of its perimeter,

means feeding the material to be separated to said armature at the edge thereof and at the entrance of the magnetic fields, and means banking up the said material at said entrances, for the purpose set forth.

l0. A magnetic separator comprising a horizontally-revoluble discoidal armature, electromagnets arranged in sets above and below said armature with their-poles facing the same, at different points of its perimeter, means feeding the material to be separated to said armature at the edge thereof andat the entrance of the magnetic fields, means banking up the said material at said en` trances, and means confining the material to the edges of the armature, forthe purpose set forth.

11. A magnetic separator comprising a horizontallyrevoluble disk having an annular wall at a distance from and concentric with its perimeter, and electromagnets at one or more points of the perimeter of said disk and having pole-pieces overhanging said disk and forming with the aforesaid Wall a channel for the passage of the material to be separated, for the purpose set forth.

12. A magnetic separator comprising ahorizontally-revolvin g plate of magnetic material, positive and negative magnets arranged above said plate, and similar electromagnets arranged belowA said plate unlike poles being opposite one another and organized to magnetize said plate by induction at certain points of its travel, means for feeding material from the center toward the rim of said plate at its point of magnetization, and mechanism for driving the plate, thereby discharging centrifugallynon-magnetic particles from the edge of the plate at the magnetized, and magnetic particles at the neutral points, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of `tvvo Witnesses.

THOMAS JOHN GREENWAY.

Witnesses:

EDWIN B. OoLToN, CHARLES S. BURGEss.

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